Electrical System. Review the 235 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 213 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 174 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports17 fire reports30 injury reports

What owners actually said

977 reports

98,616 miles · Nov 11, 2016

Engine

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THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND STARTED SMOKING. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AND BE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAD 98,616 MILES AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT GREAT COST AND INCONVENIENCE! GM ISSUED A BULLETIN FOR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET CRUZE (2011-2014) AND SONIC (2012-2014). IT IS BULLETIN NO.: 14371B. I CALLED GM TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT BUT THEY SAY NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BECAUSE THERE IS NO BULLETIN OR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2011 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI #10925496

7,900 miles · Nov 9, 2016

Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, LEG, AND ARMS, WHICH CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,900.

NHTSA ODI #10925258

135,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016

Electrical SystemFire

FIRE IN TRUNK STARTED AT REAR FUSE PANEL. DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN DRIZZLE, TRUNK AJAR MESSAGE LIT, STOPPED TO CHECK IT & ENGINE STALLED AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, FOUND THE TRUNK SECURELY LATCHED, AND COULDN'T OPEN IT WITH KEY FOB OR BUTTON IN CABIN. THEN SAW PAINT TURNING BROWN (SCORCHING) AT REAR CORNER PANEL AT LOCATION OF REAR…

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NHTSA ODI #10924366

78,000 miles · Nov 3, 2016

Power TrainCrashInjury

LATE LAST WEEK, AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, ONTO THE CITY STREET, MY FRONT WHEELS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AT 50 MPH (AS IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE). THIS ENDED UP IN SOMEONE REAR ENDING ME, CAUSING INJURIES AND SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #10924022

85,700 miles · Oct 26, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS FLASH THE NO SEAT BELT SIGN. WHEN DRIVING UNBUCKLED, THE NO SEATBELT WARNING SIGN WILL APPEAR AND FLASH. HOWEVER, AFTER JUST A FEW MOMENTS THE WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN OFF. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE WARNING LIGHT WON'T EVEN TURN ON WHEN THE SEATBELT IS NOT FASTENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10918964

103,000 miles · Oct 6, 2016

Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS THEN WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE TO CLEAR TRAFFIC SUSPECT WAVE PLATE FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #10914170

82,000 miles · Sep 26, 2016

Steering

EPS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. IT MAKES THE STEERING REVERT TO MANUAL STEERING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE TORQUE SENSOR IS BAD. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I CAN RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND THE EPS STARTS WORKING, BUT FAILS LATER.

NHTSA ODI #10909695

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2016

Exterior Lighting

THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT CONTINUE TO BLOW, I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB 5 TIMES AND ALSO REPLACE A BURNT-OUT WIRE BUT THE BULB HAS BLOWN AGAIN AND IT'S GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ODI #10909393

48,000 miles · Sep 21, 2016

Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY NORMALLY. HAD AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER BAG DEPLOYED LITTLE. PASSENGER NEVER DEPLOYED. CAR WAS ON HIGHWAY. INVOLVED WITH ANOTHER CAR THEIR'S FULLY DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #10908507

56,600 miles · Sep 20, 2016

Power Train

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HAD MULTIPLE CONCERNS REGARDING SLOW ACCELERATION AND ROUGH JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS NORMAL FOR MY VEHICLE MODEL ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE AN HONDA ACCORD. PURCHASED CAR WITH 34K MILES ON IT AT 56K MILES I WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND FELT A SUDDEN HESITATION. CAR STILL DROVE NORMAL IN DRIVE, DROVE ABOUT HALF A MILE ON HIGHWAY AND ONCE EXITING HIGHWAY I NOTICED A WEIRD SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM MY CAR. PULLED OVER TO A MCDONALDS TO INSPECT VEHICLE AND IT WAS STILL MAKING NOISE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND WENT THROUGH P,N,D AND SOUND PERSISTED. DROVE VEHICLE A FEW BLOCKS SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND SOUND STOPPED. BROUGHT CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE INSPECTED PER THE SHOP EVERYTHING WAS INTACT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE NOISE. ONE DAY LATER I STOPPED ON A SIDE STREET AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS TO PULL AWAY FROM STOP SIGN CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TRIED AGAIN, CAR REVVED AND MOMENTS LATER CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD VIOLENTLY. CRAWLED CAR TO SIDE OF STREET AND HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, DEEPER DIAGNOSTIC WORK REVEALED A BELT HAD BROKEN WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. HAVE RECEIVED CAR BACK WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION HOWEVER CAR STILL IS VERY SLUGGISH WITH SLOW RESPONSE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10908321

Official recalls

19V019000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 16, 2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments may strike the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N182206630.

15V269000 · Seat Belts

May 8, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)